Grand Canyon R2R Hike

Grand Canyon North Rim to South Rim hike: November 2013

Never give up.. Don't ever... Trust me that the miracle was not that we hiked Grand Canyon north rim to south rim but the miracle was that we had the courage to hike rim to rim in 1 day.

2nd November- We reached South Rim around 7AM and parked the car and took a shuttle to North Rim. Don't really remember the drive as I was sleeping in the shuttle :)

We reached north rim around 11am. Met the ranger and told her the plan to rim to rim in a day and she was like "that we be aggressive" and we were like "let's do it".. Another few minutes we started downhill from the kabab trail..

Day 1 plan was to hike 7miles and sleep early as the plan for day 2 was aggressive and we have to hike around 15 miles with the 7 mile up hill hike. So finally we started descending which was pretty awesome, taking pictures, cracking jokes and getting the feel of red rocks and huge mountain. So technically we started our hike around 12pm on day 1 and around 4 pm we reached the cottonwood campground. After reaching the campground we assembled our tents and started planning for day 2. The campground was very well managed. We started cooking after sometime and had a really good time. Went to the tent around 8PM.. Temperature was down to 30F.. But the excitement was at the par.

3rd November- We woke up at 3.15AM, wrapped up the tents and other stuff and started our hike at around 4AM. It was pitch dark and the view was simply superb. Trekking around the Colorado river within the canyon is an experience which can't be explained. You have to be there to just get the feel for it. Stars were so close to us that one can touch them. We hike around 7miles towards the bright angel Campground. We reached at this campground around 6.30AM. This is the best camp ground I have had ever seen in. Any campground. I can't believe that there are lodges and a restaurant inside the canyon.
Now it was the toughest part of the hike. Hiking around 7 miles and reach the south rim by noon.. Few miles ahead of the campground on South Kaibab Trailhead is the bridge to cross the Colorado river. The view over there is gorgeous. I would say this is the best part of the hike. It's a paradise from where you can feel Colorado river, huge Grand Canyon, red rocks, and your hike which will never forget in your life. Took tons of amazing pics doing crazy activities on the bridge and had a really good time with my lads.

Now was the toughest part of the hike as we all can see the peak of the canyon and this was not the peak but this was the one of the canyon peak which we have to hike before reaching the south rim. We started heading uphill and slowly our emergent bar and gels came out of the pocket.. Lol.. It seems that me and Tom were getting tired but the best part was that we were mentally prepared. Georgie, Bhavik, Husain were energetic and we all were super duper excited. After 3 or 4miles I completely lost my energy. I was not able to walk and that was the worst part of the hike. Every 5minutes I started taking rest. Georgie was walking along with me at that time and he was completely pushing me. That push was really very important at that particular time because I was completely drained. More over I think that I was loosing patience.

I feel that's when you are attempting a challenge like this then it's all about the mental state, ability to control your patience, emotions and frustrations. Once your control all these bad vibes then everything is possible. I'd rather again say that everything is possible and impossible just takes longer. Sometimes the situation is not the problem which makes you down, it is the reaction to the situation that creates the problem.. After finishing those 2 or 2.5 miles of the hike I was kind of better. We stopped at the top of canyon and attempted array exception again. Now we were like 3 miles away from the south rim and body was completely loosing the energy. This time Bhavik was along with me to push hard to finish the last lap of the hike. Last few miles were challenging but full of enthusiasm. The trail was changing the color as the altitude was changing. I think the total elevation was like 7200 feet. We again stopped at the base which was around mile ahead of south rim.. We all were very excited as it was around 11AM and we were a mile ahead to finish the hike. Listening to music, eating energy gel, taking pictures and feeling one of the most energetic trip of the life was the last mile. We finished the hike at around 12.30PM and that was just "wow" . After that we visited a restaurant and cheered up for the rim to rim hike. Our body was soar and legs were hurting badly. We started driving back towards Phoenix airport which was the again the toughest drive in the pain. Finally we reached the airport and it was the end one of the most beautiful journey and the start for few more upcoming hikes. More to more and more to hike. In every hike of nature one receives far more than he seeks..

Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body.. But rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "holy shit... What a hike!!"

Blogger: Akhil Jain
Hikers: Akhil, Georgie, Bhavik, Tom, Mustafa
R2R Route: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bxf5MiFFCNPadjJGTzY5aDRaakU
Pics: facebook 

Steps to apply H4 EAD

Here are the few steps which I followed for filing H4 EAD Application- new and renewal application. This blog is solely based on my experience and nothing to do with acceptance and denial of someone else application. Always read USCIS H4 employment links before preparing your package.

Basis for Work Authorization:

• Approved Form I-140
• H-1B Principal Received AC21 106(a) and (b) Extension.

H4 I-765 application form:

• Full Name: Legal First, Middle, last Name
• Address in the United States: Address you stay
• Country of Citizenship/Nationality- Your citizenship based on passport. If you are a dual citizen, write the country noted on your I-20, which should match the passport you use
• Date of Birth - month/day/year
• Social Security Number: If you have a SSN then write it but If you do not have a Social Security Number, write “N/A”
• Alien Registration Number (A-Number) or I-94 Number: 11-digit I94 record number. Refer https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/consent.html
• Have you ever before applied for employment authorization from USCIS? If you have never applied for an EAD before, mark “No”. If you have applied for an EAD in the past, mark “Yes” finish the questions at the top of the next column. Which USCIS Office? - Write the USCIS office. Example LIN – Nebraska Service Center, EAC – Vermont Service Center , SRC – Texas Service Center , WAC – California Service Center. Date(s) -Valid from and Card Expires date from EAD card. Results -Granted or Denied
• Date of Last Entry into the U.S. (mm/dd/yyyy)- Put Last City in US and also put port of entry (if both are different)
• Current Immigration Status- H4 Visa
• Current Immigration Status: C26
• Current Immigration Status: H1B I797 number (start with EAC or LIN ..)

Here are the documents which I have sent for H4 EAD application:

• 2 colored photo of 2*2 inch (Write name and I94 number on back with Pencil and black light ink)
• Cashier’s Check- Check payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security for $380
• I-765 form
• Form G-1145
• I-140 approval of spouse
• I-94 of EAD Applicant
• I-94 of Spouse
• I-797A of EAD Applicant
• I-797A of spouse
• Birth Certificate of Applicant
• Marriage Certificate
• Stamped Copy of H1 and H4 Visa (optional)
• Driver License of Applicant (optional)
• Employment verification letter of spouse (optional)

Please refer to the latest documents required based on https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/employment-authorization-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses

H4 EAD Renewal application:

• You cannot file for a renewal EAD more than 120 days before your original EAD expires
• Please send your I797 Notice of action (Notice Type: Approval of Action),  EAD card and the receipt on which the previous EAD was attached. I have heard that the paper w/ attached EAD is also required, so please don't trash it (I have trashed one)
• Send all the applications documents as listed above. The process doesn't change for new application vs renewal except the above 2 point

Key things to note:

• Two identical two-by-two-inch passport-style color photographs. Print Name and I94 number of back of photo
• I765- Please sign the form w/ black ink. Don't sign outside of the space provided
• Place of last entry: I feel this is bit confusing in the case when port of entry is outside of the US (eg Abu Dhabi). In this case your last entry into the US and port of entry will be different. I'd just put Last Entry as US City, Port of Entry: Port of Entry as per I-94
• Where to send your package: Refer to C 26 section on this link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765-addresses and send it to the address based on H1 most recent Form I-797 Notice of Approval (begins with EAC or LIN, SRC or WAC)
• Use latest version of Form I-765
• You cannot file for a renewal EAD more than 120 days before your original EAD expires

Few important links:

• Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses: https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/employment-authorization-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses
• I-765, Application for Employment Authorization- https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
• I765 Instructions: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-765instr.pdf
• USCIS Service and Office Locator- https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=SC
• USCIS Status tracker- https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/logon.do
• H4 EAD trackit. Really useful forum to submit your case and discuss issues- http://www.trackitt.com/usa-immigration-trackers/h4-ead

Good Luck and this process is helping tons of H4 dependent to step outside of their house and start working. Please navigate to contact us page and use any social media to get in touch with me to discuss my experience w/ H4 EAD application process or any other questions.